Looking for Recommendations on Air Sprayer and Compressor

[John TenEyck]

Could be another of the Harbor Freight gems. https://www.harborfreight.com/21-gal...sor-64858.html Just enough CFM to drive that gun. Not a big risk price wise, and if you buy the insurance they'll take it back no questions asked.

John

[Josh Baldwin]

Could be another of the Harbor Freight gems. https://www.harborfreight.com/21-gal...sor-64858.html Just enough CFM to drive that gun. Not a big risk price wise, and if you buy the insurance they'll take it back no questions asked.

John

Yea that's definitely a great price. I thought I would need at least 6CFM at 40psi though. I haven't been considering anything under 6 so far.

[John TenEyck]

Yea that's definitely a great price. I thought I would need at least 6CFM at 40psi though. I haven't been considering anything under 6 so far.

Hmm, I think you are right. I thought that gun could operate on 4 cfm, but I see it actually says "less than 8 cfm", which is rather vague. For another LVLP gun, however, it does say 6 cfm. I don't think any of the HF offerings have that much flow.

John

[Josh Baldwin]

So I'm leaning towards ordering this one for $430 with coupon. Any opinions? CFM seems great. Any shop needs above 125psi that I'll be missing out on?

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...6787_200746787

[Jim Becker]

Check out the IR GarageMate, Josh. 120v power and a really good quality product. May be slightly more in cost (I didn't look) but it's the portable equivalent of a really nice larger compressor.

[Josh Baldwin]

Check out the IR GarageMate, Josh. 120v power and a really good quality product. May be slightly more in cost (I didn't look) but it's the portable equivalent of a really nice larger compressor.

Hey Jim, so is that mostly a brand preference thing? Like you trust them because they're well made? I just ask because the specs are worse on every level than the eMax one I posted (Sound, CFM, etc). Just trying to see what I'm missing. Thanks

[Jim Becker]

I've never heard of EMAX but that doesn't mean a thing. They do seem to place themselves as an industrial air compressor company on their web, but they primarily distribute via mass market outlets. I do happen to like IR as a company including metal parts when many brands use plastic. No matter, it was just a suggestion and it appears you're looking at similar units so that's good.

[Mike Monroe]

I believe JB is referring to this compressor: https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...9041_200339041

The "Ingersoll Rand Portable Electric Air Compressor — 2 HP, 30-Gallon Horizontal, 5.7 CFM, Model# SS3F2GM" has the "EMAX Hulk Silent Air Portable Air Compressor — 2 HP, 20 Gallon, Model# HP02P020SS" beat hands down in a number of areas. But then the IR compressor should since is costs about $400 more than the EMAX.

[Jim Becker]

That's not the GarageMate, but it's similar...just horizontal instead of vertical like the EMAX.

Here's the GarageMate...it's indeed a few more shekels than the EMAX

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...5221_200375221

[Josh Baldwin]

I believe JB is referring to this compressor: https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...9041_200339041

The "Ingersoll Rand Portable Electric Air Compressor — 2 HP, 30-Gallon Horizontal, 5.7 CFM, Model# SS3F2GM" has the "EMAX Hulk Silent Air Portable Air Compressor — 2 HP, 20 Gallon, Model# HP02P020SS" beat hands down in a number of areas. But then the IR compressor should since is costs about $400 more than the EMAX.

Ahh ok I see that one. Yea definitely a little better, but damn twice the price almost. Thanks for pointing it out though.

[Josh Baldwin]

That's not the GarageMate, but it's similar...just horizontal instead of vertical like the EMAX.

Here's the GarageMate...it's indeed a few more shekels than the EMAX

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...5221_200375221

Thanks for the link Jim. That's the one I was referring to when I googled your recommendation. Definitely tough to spend that much when it seems to be not as good. But of course I know I'm probably taking more of a risk with the quality of the eMax compared to that one. I think I'll probably order it and see how it goes. Thanks again for all the help. I'll keep you posted on how everything turns out.

[Mike Monroe]

Here's another made in America option: https://www.grainger.com/product/SPEEDAIRE-2-0-HP-4TW29

Similar specs to the IR Garage Mate, but cheaper if you can pick-up locally. As I understand it, Speedaire compressors are well regarded.